Carl’s Jr. parent posts first-quarter profit

CKE Restaurants Inc., which operates the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. fast-food chains, said it swung to a profit during its fiscal first quarter.

Carpinteria-based CKE said it had earnings of $9.5 million for the quarter ended May 21, compared with a loss of $2.6 million in the year-earlier period. Revenue increased 3 percent to $412.3 million from $400.6 million last year.

The company said its earnings were aided by lower food and packaging costs, which helped keep operating costs and expenses near steady at $381.35 million.

Same-store sales at Hardee’s rose 2.6 percent, down from a growth rate of 9.6 percent in the first quarter last year. Same-store sales at Carl’s Jr. also rose 2.6 percent, an improvement from 2.1 percent a year earlier.

Privately held CKE last month filed plans for an initial public offering of up to $100 million, saying it would use the funds to pay down debt. In 2010, CKE was sold to Apollo Management Group for $694 million.

As of May 21, CKE had 3,263 franchised or company-owned restaurants in 42 states and 25 foreign countries, including 1,322 Carl’s Jr. restaurants and 1,932 Hardee’s.